Pilot Roundup: The Latest In Network TV Developments

Plenty of news has erupted this past week regarding pilot development at the major television networks and we wanted to be sure you didn’t miss out. So, let’s take a look at what the network’s have in store for you, which stars might be returning to TV, and what has a shot as being the next breakout TV hit.

Sarah Michelle Gellar Returns To TV

The return of Buffy is near. Well, not literally Buffy but the one who brought her to life. Gellar will be returning to TV in CBS’ pilot, Ringer, which should get a pick up in May for the 2011-2012 season. Until recently, the show has only been described as a drama about “a troubled young woman on the run who hides out by living the life of her wealthy twin sister, until she learns her sibling’s life has a bounty on it as well.” Pretty vague description, but producer Peter Traugott was able to divulge more information. “It’s a thriller, for sure,” Traugott describes. “It’s an edgy thriller about redemption and about revenge. There’s a point of view of two twin sisters who grew apart over a tragedy in their past. And one now seeks redemption and the other one seeks revenge. The sister who is seeking redemption has had a much more troubled life. When her fancy pants sister disappears, she takes over her life. She’s living the life of her more successful sister only to come to find out that her life is equally as fraught with danger and complication. Her sister dies in a boating accident. The other sister takes on her persona, only to come to find out that they have a hit out on her.” Will you be watching? Excited about Sarah Michelle Gellar’s return to TV?

Edgar Allen Poe to TV

ABC has picked up a crime drama where Poe solves mysteries. The official description from ABC describes the production as a “Crime procedural following Edgar Allan Poe as the world’s very first detective, using unconventional methods to investigate dark mysteries in 1840s Boston.” Are we to expect the next great literary figure to make an appearance to TV? Maybe Shakespeare: Las Vegas?

ABC Treks Back to the 60′s, Picks Up Lost & Found and Work It

Pan Am is an intriguing period drama, likely sought after thanks to the success of Mad Men. The project is being described as “a sexy soap set against the Jet-Age, focusing on the stewardesses and pilots and their glamorous world full of exciting adventures.”

In other ABC news, a multi-camera comedy, Lost & Found has been picked up for development. The show is about “a narcissistic New York City bartender and party girl has her life turned upside down when the conservative 18 year old son she gave up for adoption shows up on her doorstep.” Another multi-camera comedy to join the ranks is Work It about “two out of work car salesmen realize that it is now a woman’s world and decide that in order to find work again and succeed they are going to have to dress as women to get jobs as pharmaceuticals reps. Doing this inadvertently makes them better men, husbands and fathers but also makes them appreciate the sanctuary of their guy’s nights at the local bar where they can really be themselves.”

NBC’s next Procedural

NBC’s Special Investigations L.A., is set in the world of crime, law enforcement, and politics in modern-day Los Angeles. All we know about it is that it’s set in the style of Traffic. I wonder if this is meant to replace the recent woes with Law & Order: LA.

DeNiro’s Latest Project

His cop drama pilot Rookies is a Manhattan-based series that he’s joined on to produce. The project centers around six NYPD rookies who balance their personal lives with learning the beat on the streets of Manhattan.

NBC Joins Two Acclaimed Comediennes

First up – Chelsea Handler. Yep, you read that right, the unpredictable one from E!. Are You There Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea is a multi-camera comedy inspired by her recent book, which is coincidentally based on her life. The series will follow a group of twenty-somethings that is headed by a very outspoken young woman. Handler will not appear on the show but will serve as executive producer.

New NBC boss is apparently working to press the envelope under the new Comcast merger. The other comedy NBC has also ordered a pilot for will star and is based on the comedy of Whitney Cummings. In the show, she’ll play part of a young couple, whereas in real life she’s actually single.

J.D. Montgomery accidentally stumbled into the world of entertainment when he first joined the Yak’s team all the way from medical school on the isle of St. Maarten. Entertainment media is probably the last place you’d expect a 3rd year medical student to wind up in, but YakkityYaks is where he’s at. J.D. used his fast-paced learning style to quickly further himself as one of the Yak’s top entertainment contributors. While he has no background in the entertainment industry, he is an avid fan of television, movies, and music and his passion for the exciting world of entertainment translates into his wide array of reports. When J.D. is not writing, you can find him busy studying for his medical boards and wandering the halls of the hospital … not Grey’s Anatomy or House, MD style (fortunately or not). He also has a BS in Neuroscience and is always looking for ways to channel his medical background for the Yak. Too bad he’s not a vet.

A nine-hour adaptation of "11/22/63" - King's thriller about the Kennedy assassination - is headed directly to Hulu. Helmed by Abrams, the series is a limited “event series,” but there will be opportunities for future subsequent seasons based on the story, which follows high school English teacher Jake Epping, who travels back in time to try to prevent the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas on the fateful date in American history.